Bounced cheque case against Kerala politician Thushar Vellappally lifted in UAE

Dubai: The Dh9-million dud cheque case against Kerala politician Thushar Vellappally has been dismissed and he is free to travel to India, Khaleej Times quoted his lawyer as saying.

"The Ajman Public Prosecution has dismissed the case for lack of any merit. We will get the signed court order tomorrow (Monday)," a legal consultant from Khalid Al Zarooni advocates that represented Vellappally told Khaleej Times.

However,  there has been no independent verification of the order.  Vellappally,  Kerala leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA),  led by the Bharatiya Janata Party,  who contested the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency against Rahul Gandhi, was arrested last month from a Dubai hotel following a cheating case filed by Nazil Abdulla, also from Kerala.

Vellappally was released after his friends and well-wishers paid Dh1 million for his bail and Thushar's passport was submitted as guarantee for his availability in the country.

After the hearing on Sunday, September 8, Vellappally said the case filed against him has been proved to be "false and baseless". "All the documents submitted by the complainant were fake. I was sure the case would be dismissed," said the politician. "I am thankful to the UAE's legal system and its leadership for this fair and fast judgement. If the case was in any other country, the verdict could have taken a lot longer." The complainant could not be reached for a comment.

According to Vellappally's lawyer, the travel ban on Vellappally has been lifted.  However,  the complainant Nazil Abdull has also filed a civil case proceedings of which have not yet started.  Vellappally said he would push for legal action against Abdulla for "forging documents and tarnishing my reputation".